NHTSA Staffers Evaluating Self-Driving Risks Reportedly Fired by DOGE

Staff Cuts Target Self-Driving Oversight Office

Roughly 30 employees at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) were dismissed in February by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a newly established body under Elon Musk’s leadership within the Trump administration, according to The Financial Times.

Many of the dismissed staff were part of NHTSA’s Office of Vehicle Automation Safety, the internal division tasked with evaluating risks and safety protocols related to self-driving cars.

A former staff member described the move as a serious blow to the agency’s capacity to regulate emerging autonomous technologies.

“DOGE’s actions could weaken NHTSA’s ability to understand self-driving technologies,” the worker said.
Another laid-off employee noted the potential irony if these firings ultimately delayed Tesla’s own efforts to expand its autonomous driving features.

Tesla’s Automated Systems Under Ongoing Scrutiny

The timing of the firings is especially notable as Tesla remains under multiple active investigations by NHTSA. The agency is scrutinizing several Tesla features, including:

• Full Self-Driving (FSD) software

• Autopilot driver-assistance system

• Remote Summon feature

Tesla’s automated systems are linked to more reported on-road crashes than those of any other manufacturer, based on public NHTSA data. Victims’ families have voiced alarm, urging U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to uphold Biden-era rules that mandate the reporting of autonomous vehicle (AV) crashes.

Advocates fear that Musk’s dual role as Tesla CEO and federal official may compromise the impartiality of investigations or soften regulatory scrutiny.

Musk-Backed DOGE Sparks Controversy

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was created earlier this year as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce bureaucratic “redundancy” in federal agencies. Elon Musk, who took the helm of the department, has emphasized streamlining operations and cutting costs—but critics say DOGE is targeting regulatory institutions vital to public safety.

The move to lay off AV-focused safety staff came just months after NHTSA introduced a new regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. While the framework promised relaxed rules for AV development, it required increased transparency and data-sharing from tech and auto companies in return.

Industry analysts now question whether that data-sharing component will be enforced with fewer experts inside the agency.

Political Pressure and Public Concern

The firings have already drawn attention from lawmakers and public safety groups, particularly in light of Musk’s expanding influence within both the tech sector and federal governance.

Critics argue that reducing expert oversight at NHTSA could create a regulatory blind spot just as autonomous vehicles edge closer to widespread deployment.

With Tesla continuing to promote its self-driving technologies — and with fatalities still under investigation — the issue is far from settled.

As the line between industry leadership and government influence blurs, the future of U.S. autonomous vehicle regulation may hinge on the ability of watchdog agencies like NHTSA to retain both independence and technical expertise.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for breaking updates on transportation safety, autonomous vehicle oversight, and regulatory policy in the evolving tech landscape.